Soshi-dō, the Founder’s Hall 祖師堂

Official explanation

The Soshi-dō or Founders’ Hall was built in 1605 by Gien, the abbot of Daigo-ji at that time and principal agent behind the large reconstruction program of the 16th century. He dedicated the hall to the two founders, whose statues are enshrined within: Kūkai and Shōbō. Fundamentally, the founder’s and patriarch’s halls are one of the most important halls within a temple complex in Shingon Buddhism, playing a major role in the religious life of monks and nuns. The Soshi-dō in Daigo-ji is no exception. As Kūkai is ranked senior to the founding father of the temple Shōbō, it is Kūkai’s birthday that is annually commemorated with a religious ceremony on the 15th of June.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.